This site uses cookies

By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn more

I understand

This site uses cookies - small text files that are placed on your machine to help the site provide a better user experience. In general, cookies are used to retain user preferences, store information for things like shopping carts, and provide anonymised tracking data to third party applications like Google Analytics. As a rule, cookies will make your browsing experience better. However, you may prefer to disable cookies on this site and on others. The most effective way to do this is to disable cookies in your browser. We suggest consulting the Help section of your browser or taking a look at the About Cookies website which offers guidance for all modern browsers

Our mission is to rescue and rehabilitate abused, neglected and abandoned horses, ponies and donkeys, while campaigning for the better treatment of animals across Spain. We are a no-kill foundation and provide each rescued animal with a safe and loving sanctuary – either here at our centre or via rehoming – for the rest of their lives.

Rescued mare Dolores put to sleep after almost three years of happy living at our rescue centre

Published: 27 November 2015

An abandoned old mare rescued by the Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre two years ago has passed away peacefully.

Dolores, who was thought to be about 40 years old, arrived at the rescue centre in January 2013, suffering pneumonia and with a mouth full of painfully rotten teeth. She was also traumatised after being tied to the back of a van and forced to run behind it.

Her Spanish owners, who had moved away to look for work, had left Dolores in the garden of a Spanish farmworker, who could not afford to feed her.

The farmworker did care about the horse’s wellbeing but unfortunately did not realise the cruelty of making a horse run behind a van.

“She was in a hell of a state and we had to fight to save her life,” said rescue centre co-founder Sue Weeding. “But she was such a fighter that we felt we could never give up on her after everything she survived.”

During the three years that Dolores lived at the rescue centre, she was given a range of specialist treatment to manage her poor lung condition.

A specialist horse nebuliser was ordered in from Island to help her breathe more easily and this summer an air conditioner was installed in her stable to help her cope with the stifling Spanish heat.

“But in the past week we noticed she was really starting to struggle, so we made the heartbreaking decision to put her to sleep on November 9,” Sue said.

“She really was a lovely old girl. Everyone loved her and she was very spoilt, always receiving loads of special feeds and carrots and apples. She really had it all and we feel happy to have given her a few good years of love and kindness.”

The Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre relies entirely on donations to fund its important animal welfare work, including the feeding and care of the centre’s more than 90 horses, ponies and donkeys rescued from abuse, neglect and abandonment.

Donations of cash or items for the centre’s network of eight charity shops across the Alicante province are gratefully welcomed. A pick-up service is available to collect large donated items such as furniture and each shop also offers a delivery service for large items purchased in-store.

Anyone interested in making a donation, becoming a long-term sponsor, or volunteering at the rescue centre or in the charity shops can call Sue on 652 021 980.

The Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre, located just outside Rojales at Partido Lo Garriga, 59, opens to the public on the first Sunday of every month between 1pm and 4pm. Free horse tours run throughout the afternoon and refreshments are available in the café. For more details and directions, please visit www.easyhorsecare.net.

We are the only officially registered horse rescue centre foundation
in Spain.